Community goes both ways. By that I mean, bittersweet, somewhat subtle and heartfelt ("Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality") all the way to over-the-top, teetering on the edge of a complete reality break ("Epidemiology"). It can do both well and is even better when it combines the two (see "Geothermal Escapism"). Despite the fact that Greendale has devolved (or evolved if you’re the proud owner of 5 MeowMeowBeanz) into a society that fits to whatever, game, app or dance that hits the halls, the conceit still works and is better than 99% of television. I cared about MeowMeowBeanz! I wanted to be a 5! I check other people’s Facebook’s who share my birthday to see if I get more posts than them! WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME? *Pauses to stare despondently into mirror contemplating what I’ve become.
Clearly social media has changed society in a way most of us never #imagined. It’s about time that Community took a swing @moderntechnology. Did it miss? No. Will it get as many retweets as @ellendegeneres’ Oscar #selfie? No, because it’s television and social media is the worst. Use your eyes to read a recap on the Internet because books are dead and our kids will only communicate via SnapchatInfinityBANDZ and TinderPhone9.
Jeff
B-
Jeff wants to appear above social media. Who cares? Cool people are cool and if you’re cool you don’t need likes and favorites to tell you so… BUT it’s just so gratifying. At first you join because, ‘sure, why not’ (my actual Twitter bio) and then you get a follower, a like, and you’re BECOMING SOMEBODY. Maybe you throw an extra hashtag on that picture of your #Dog. Next thing you know your @replying your entire life to a vast faceless horde of your ‘friends’. It’s addicting and Jeff (like me when I first joined Twitter) sets out to show everyone what it’s really all about: It’s sort of fucked up, pointless, definitely passive aggressive with a little bit of mean spiritedness mixed in, essentially it’s high school … forever.
That’s the problem for Jeff; he never really left high school. Winger HAS to be popular. If that means taking down his friend (Shirley) and throwing another under the bus (Britta) to do so, HE’S IN. His rise is spectacular and his fall momentary but that’s how it goes for people like Jeff. The episode framed it as an issue of control and manipulation but in the end, as it always is for JW, it was about self-validation. Jeff just needs to learn to love Jeff, (but not the self-love you’re thinking. Pervert).
Shirley
C
Everyone loves Shirley, SHE’S SO NICE and manipulative and calculating. She definitely has her finer attributes and seems to have a good heart deep down but like Jeff, Shirley likes being liked. She’s the quirky Mom who’s just joined Facebook and puts up just the WHACKIEST statuses. She’s seemingly harmless, appears to mean well, is likeable and funny enough so you toss a thumbs up her way. Next thing you know, it’s ten updates a day. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT HER. Her status about a SALE AT CHICOS gets more likes and comments then your status about #KONY2012 (you all did it don’t lie). Like this Mom, Shirley is drunk on the power of social media. It takes Jeff’s control issues to make her realize her own. Together they bring down MeowMeowBeanz and return Greendale to normalcy (if that exists at Greendale). The entire episode is spurred by S-dawg’s passive aggressive and manipulative behavior. While it appears that Shirley learned her lesson I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the last of her machinations.
Annie
My correlation of social media to high school works perfectly for Annie. She’s still an over-achiever but also a drone. Like the Straight A student she was, Edison toes the line and doesn’t dare question authority. It’s a far cry from the Annie I love and the character that’s developed so much in the last few seasons. Community is always more fun when Annie does the unexpected, so pencil pushing background Annie is definitely average.
Britta
Is it wrong to give the character that’s supposed to be the worst so many A’s? If so I don’t want to be right. Britta nails it once again, albeit only when she has mustard on her face. She leads the charge against MeowMeowBeanz and just like in Geothermal Escapism is abandoned again by her friends. Jeff ditches her to achieve fiveness and Annie tells her to be a sheep. That’s not Britta, revolution is Britta, Britta is revolution. Channeling her inner-Che Britta turns MMB on its head bringing the 1’s to power and destroying the system. It’s everything Britta’s ever wanted and she is a quite the glorious leader of underdogs… until Jeff and Shirley ruin it. Is it weird that watching Britta smother herself with mustard felt relatable? Anything for a #tbt -- I was a cute baby LOVE ME, I met a famous person LOOK AT THIS PICTURE, this is a relevant status about world events I KNOW THINGS.
Abed
Abed finally belongs! Though it seemed he was swept up in the vast sea that was this episode it was exciting to see how much Abed loved being part of the herd (he makes small-talk now!). I see it as another step towards a more socially apt Abed, that can’t be a bad thing … right?
Hickey
"App Development and Condiments"
I can’t say I don’t love when Greendale goes completely off the rails. The pure ludicrousness of this episode had me enthralled. However, after an episode that packed an emotional wallop like last week it’s hard to be as invested in the madcap reality bending of this week. It’s still amazing and hilarious but it’s hard to dole out A’s when you know it can be better. I’m not mad, just disappointed.